Animals vs Humans
आहार-निद्रा-भय-मैथुनानि सामान्यम् एतत् पशुभिर् नराणाम् ।
ज्ञानं नराणाम् अधिको विशेषो ज्ञानेन हीनाः पशुभिः समानाः ॥ २५ ॥
This is from Hitopdesh
Propencity for food, sleep, fear, and mating are common between animals and humans. Animals never transgress their prakriti and their behaviour is driven by one of these impulses. What distinguishes humans from animals is the ability to discriminate betwen dharm and adharm.
Humans are capable of exercising free will by using intellect and controlling basic instinct or prakriti.They are able to modify their behaviour. Preventing free will turning into vikriti and adarm is dharm. Dharm is a purusharth which is achieved by application of free will and self effort.
Animals are close to nature, and it seems that they do not kill for fun. They only take care of their needs to survive. When a lion is not hungry and is resting, deer can fearlessly play nearby. Despite animals serving the function of prey and predator, there is harmony and balance in nature. Animals are good at sensing weather changes. Only with their inner instinct, they perform remarkable feats.